Geoege henby adams



(No Model.)

G. H. ADAMS.

RACK.

Patented Jan. 25, 1887.

: IPL.

. RTLZ/asses l Inventor :E OLMMA. @om l; 7L' or 'eg a/ U y I/ Nrrnn STATES GEORGE HENRY ADAMS, OE LEWIS, IOVA.

RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,520, dated January 25,5 1887. Application filed March 1d, 1886. Serial No. 195,636. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HENRY ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewis, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Backs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the'same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the le'tters and iignres of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved portable rack, showing several of the hinged rack-frames swung partly open. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing all of the racls closed in full lines, and one of the racks fully open in dotted lines. v

This invention relates to improvements in portable folding racks adapted for hanging O clothes and other fabrics, and for other purposes where a series of folding frames are desired; and it consists'in the novel combination of portable folding racks, as will be fully understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

Referring to the drawings` by letters, A designate two vertical standards, which present on their inner sides steps b, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the stepped sides of the two opposite standards being reversed, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Each standard A may be formed of a single piece of wood or other suitable material, or it may be formed of strips of diiiercnt widths suitably secured together, leaving the steps b, shown and described. These standards A A are rigidly but removably secured to horizontal beams or carriages B B, perpendicular thereto, which beams are mounted on casterwheels B B', so that the rack is portable. The standards Amay be secured to the carriagebeams B by throngh-bolts or otherwise, so that the parts can be readily separated for packing.

C designates a rectangular frame, the vertical sides of which are rigidly secured, one to the step at the broadest part of one standard and the other side to 4a step at the broadest part of the opposite standard. By this means the two standards and their carriagebeams are secured together, so that they can be rolled from one place to another as a single rigid portable frame.

D D designate a number of racks or frames of rectangular form, which are hinged to the prominent angles on the stepped sides of the standards A A at d d, on opposite sides of the connecting-frameC. One series of rack-frames D is hinged to the right-hand standard Aon one side of the connecting-frame O, and the other series of rack-frames is hinged to the lefthand standardontheoppositesideofsaidframe. By this mode ofhingingthe framesDthey open and close in opposite directions and can be folded or closed compactly, as shown in Fig. 2. I provide the free end of each hinged rack-frame D with a latch, e, which, when it is engaged with the teeth of a horizontal catch, f, secured to each standard A, will hold the rack-frame parallel to the connecting-frame O.

In addition to the hinged racks D, and in combination with them, I employ boards D', hinged to short standards suitably secured to the beams B B, near the ends thereof.

A sufficient space should be left between the tall racks and short boards D on opposite sides of the connecting-frame C, to allow free access to persons between the tall racks and short boards. Y

By my invention I afford a very large surface for hanging large and small articles, and when the device is not in use it can be compactly closed and such articles kept free from dust.

The standards, which are secured in place by bolts or othersuitable fastenings, can be readily detached from their supporting-beams and the whole device packed in a small compass for transporation.

The boards D are, as above stated, shorter than the racks D, and are chiefly designed to serve as supports for pictures representing the foreground of theatrical or other scenes, which may be attached to the hinged racks D. These boards D may be omitted when the racks D are used for supporting fabrics.

Having described my invention, I claiml. The combination, with the carriage-beams, of the stepped standards and their hinged vboards located near the ends of said beams,

and the intermediate stepped standards, con- IOO neeted byafra1ne,C,end provided with hinged l stepped standards mounted on a carriage, a racks and fastenings therefor', substantially as freine rigidly connecting said standards, as dedescribed.

2. The combination, With .ft carriage, as de- 5 scribed, of stepped standards A A, the hinged folding frames D, and catching devices therefor, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the carriage, as described, of the reversed stepped standards IO secured thereto, the connecting-frame C, and the hinged frames D, su bstantialiy as specified. 4. A portable rack consisting of reversed seribed7 and frames hinged to these standards I5 at the prominent angles of the steps thereof and arranged on opposite sides of the said c011- neeting-frmne, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iafx my si gnature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE HENRY ADAMS. Vtiiesses:

J. W. BAXTER, K. XV. hrLiooMimR. 

